The first 71 El dorado Ever made.

[Continental]

I am looking at a 71 convertible..the owner has a letter from GM that states that the car is the fisrt 71 El Dorado convertible ever made. Well the first one of the assembly line.

What would a car like this be worth, if it was fully restored?

[TJ Hopland]

I will be curious what the experts say about this one.

Are you looking to buy it?  What are they asking?  What condition is it in now?

'Regular' 71-76 eldo converts are all over the map for price.  I see many asking $10K+ but I keep seeing the same ad over and over again so I dont think anyone is buying (at least for now).   A mostly complete decent looking driver seems to sell in the $2.5-5K range.  THe ones I see advertised on the lower side of that range go pretty quick, the high ones seem to be up there for a while but sometimes drop the asking price and sell quickly.  THese observations are from looking at ads locally and from national sources, I have no idea what the actual transactions are, Im just making assumptions based on how long the ads are up and if they get reposted at lower prices, your results may vary. 

[RobW]

Have you seen the letter? Remember back then letters were typed on a typewriter and not all the letters lined up evenly like they do now on computers. Wouldn't the VIN #  be able to clarify it?

[Continental]

Here is the vin#

VIN # 693671Q400002

Please let me know

Thanks guy!!

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

What's the body # on the data plate?

[JIM T.]

11-15-08
CONTINENTAL, SORRY THAT THE FIRST TWO REPLIES DIDN'T answer your question I'LL give it a shot.  I don't put much stock in the letter supposely from GM. SIGNED by whom at GM, maybe the person never worked near the assembly line. For his signed letter, I might give the owener an exter $1.00 for it, just so I would have something to BRAG about. gOOD LUCK,Jim

[Otto Skorzeny]

My hunch / gut feeling is that being the first one built will not have any real effect on its value. It has some limited appeal of being a curiosity but not much more in my opinion.

The '71 Eldo isnt particularly sought after or notable as is the case with other years('53, '59 for example) so I don't see anybody really paying a premium to have the first one - all other things being equal.

[Continental]

Thank you for your advice.

[Joe Manna]

Guys,don't know much about Eldos.The only thing I do know is I would like to find a nice 67.But anyway,getting back to this post,according to the VIN,I would say it was the second one  off the line.I could be wrong.

Your best bet would be,to contact GM heritage center.Maybe they can help you.

Let us know how you make out.

Joe

[harvey b]

Hello Joe,take a look at the modified chapters forum,look in the for sale and wanted section,there is a 67 eldo listed under "looks dry" seems like a pretty good deal to me,if it was closer i would be interested in this one,im not looking for one right now but it caught my eye.price seems good too. HTH Harvey B

[Joe Manna]

Hi Harvey,thanks for the info.I will check it out.I'm glad to see I'm not the only one up early and on the board.Joe

[Matt CLC#18621]

Here is the vin#

VIN # 693671Q400002

Please let me know

Thanks guy!!

What's the body # on the data plate?

[76eldo]

Seems like they would have started with 0001, but maybe they kept that one.  I do not think that, as of right now, the first or second off the like would have any more value that any other 71, so I wouldn't spend much more than for any other 71 Eldorado.  The last Bicentennial 76 Eldo convertible would be a different store entirely.

Brian

[35-709]

'The last Bicentennial 76 Eldo convertible would be a different store entirely." 

And THAT car is part of the GM Heritage Collection, seen here with the last of the original body style Sevilles.

[Matt CLC#18621]

What's the link to see all the cars in the GM Heritage Collection?

Thanks,

Matt
CLC# 18621

[Jim Skelly, CLC #15958]

The vin number indicates that this is the second convertible off the line.  The body tag would indicate which body it is.  Considering it was the first American-made front-wheel-drive convertible since the 1937 Cord, it could be worth more than your average '71 Eldo convertible.

'68 Eldorado
'77 Biarritz
'71 Eldo coupe (Clove) - my first car

[35-709]

What's the link to see all the cars in the GM Heritage Collection?

Thanks,

Matt
CLC# 18621

Putting "GM Heritage Collection" in the Google search engine I came up with this ----- http://www.gm.com/corporate/about/heritage/

[Matt CLC#18621]

Jim,

Does that mean it is either Eldorado body #1 or Eldorado body #2; or does the VIN indicate that it is the second Cadillac off the assembly line?

Thanks,

Matt

The vin number indicates that this is the second convertible off the line.  The body tag would indicate which body it is.  Considering it was the first American-made front-wheel-drive convertible since the 1937 Cord, it could be worth more than your average '71 Eldo convertible.

'68 Eldorado
'77 Biarritz
'71 Eldo coupe (Clove) - my first car

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

The first VIN might NOT have body # 1 on it & so on. So... what's the first Eldo?  Body #1 no matter what  the VIN is or... VIN #1 no matter what body # is on it???  Have fun with that one boys. Bob   So when do we find out the body # that several of us have asked for?

[76eldo]

The vin number indicates that this is the second convertible off the line.  The body tag would indicate which body it is.  Considering it was the first American-made front-wheel-drive convertible since the 1937 Cord, it could be worth more than your average '71 Eldo convertible.


Maybe he should be looking at 66 Toronados...

Brian